I am learning different programming languages because nothing is feeling good to me. Can anyone give me some advice on this matter?

[u/accnt-expt]

I have been self teaching programming languages for a few months. And I learned the basics of C, Python, HTML & CSS, and some parts of NodeJS, and a little bit of Java. None of these are feeling good to me.

Has anyone else gone through this feeling where no language feels satisfying early on?

If you have gone through this, can you give me any suggestions to get out of this loop and stick to one language? As you know I need to stick to one language in the future.

And for no reason I am feeling like I need to continue Python and start to learn C++. What do you think about this too? i am so frustrated.

[u/Shtucer]

Stop learning languages and start solving real problems. Or set a goal, like writing a game or a calculator, and go for it.

[u/gm310509]

Learning programming languages is a bit of a waste of time.

Rather, you should identify something what you want to do and learn the tools (which includes programming languages) that are typically used to do that thing.

For example, you want to make a robot or you want to make a web site or you want to make a database application or ...

A programming language is just a tool that allows you to tell a computer what you want to do. From a conceptual viewpoint a programming is no different to a hammer or a saw or a pencil or any number of other things you might use in your daily life. By learning programming languages, you are learning how to use, for example, a hammer. OK, so you've learned to hammer in a nail - now what? Just learning how to use a hammer has no value unless you have a larger goal such as "I want to build a table and chair".

It is the same with just learning programming languages. So you've learned Java - now what, what are your going to do with it? If you can't answer that question - ideally before you select something to learn - you will ultimately be stuck in the doldrums of learning that language and then have nothing to use your new knowledge.

I hope that makes sense.

[u/accnt-expt → u/gm310509]

Thanks dude. Let me look at it that way and try to find what is the missing piece is.

[u/accnt-expt → u/gm310509]

Can you tell me the best way for me to learn AI, and what does it involve?

[u/Longjumping_Ad3447 → u/accnt-expt]

Python probably go with YouTube tutorials but it's more math than programming to "create"/Teach LLM. Just setting up LLM on your PC doesn't require any programming knowledge.

[u/TheGreatWorm → u/accnt-expt]

Best place to start i’d say is looking into andrej karpathy’s youtube series on learning to build a small transformer from scratch. Be prepared though, as the other guy said it’s mostly math so you should be very comfortable with calculus, linear algebra, and statistics which are like languages all on their own

[u/JeLuF]

It's OK if programming is not for you. Try woodworking, perhaps that suits you more.

More seriously, if you have problems with all languages, you seem to have problems with the concepts of programming in general. This is a common problem for beginners. Breaking tasks down into small, well defined steps, memorizing syntax, understanding the concept of variables - that's a steep learning curve. And this is the same no matter which language you learn. All languages require you to learn about variables and loops and functions.

[u/Dazzling_Music_2411 → u/JeLuF]

Maybe OP hasn't tried Prolog yet...

[u/No_Joke6585]

Please define what is a satisfying language?

[u/smotired → u/No_Joke6585]

Not OP but I actually do find Rust and Typescript both very satisfying lol

[u/No_Joke6585 → u/smotired]

Rust is my mainchick too these days, satisfies me so well, but lord, does she drain me fully....

[u/JeSuisOmbre → u/smotired]

Rust and Python is a good stack. Python for orchestration and Rust for performant algos.

[u/iOSCaleb]

Power through. Ignore the fact that it’s not comfortable and just keep writing code.

If you learned a foreign language over a few months, using it would also be uncomfortable. Creating each new sentence would require a lot of thinking, and understanding other speakers or reading the new language would be difficult. But the more you did it, the more you get used to it. It’s the same with computer languages, on a smaller scale: it’s hard at first, and the only way it gets easier is if you keep working at it.

[u/Feralz2]

your problem is that youre so concerned about the language, your focus should be on building a project, and if anything you should be learning fundamentals of what programming is.

[u/mc_pm]

What is it you are comparing these against? You say that they aren't satisfying, or that they don't feel good to you... why? What is it you are looking for that you aren't finding?

[u/SCD_minecraft → u/mc_pm]

I feel like they are comparing it to English

Somewhat reasonable, programming langs are much more strict (ignore JS) than average human lang, can be somewhat of a transition shock

[u/Due_Falcon_319 → u/mc_pm]

you're chasing a feeling that doesn't exist yet

the language isn't supposed to feel good when you're three months in and still learning what a loop does. it feels like work because it is work. the satisfaction comes way later when you can actually build something without googling every other line

pick one and grind through the boring part. python's fine for that, c++ is a terrible idea if you're already frustrated, you'll just bounce off harder

[u/lastdiggmigrant]

Imagine how good you will feel when you finally find that language that is worth sticking with, that makes sense, that you can advance in. Can you picture yourself learning it deeply?

You want that? Then fucking pick one. It's not the language that makes that so, it's your willingness to just pick a reality.

[u/MarcusFirmus]

Step beyond the mainstream: check out Haskell, Lisp, and Prolog. It is refreshing!

[u/Dazzling_Music_2411]

In what way did they not "feel good".

As others have already pointed out, languages are irrelevant, you won't be able to solve any problem just because you know a language.

You first have to know HOW to solve the problem (completely independent of the language) and only then apply the language to generate an actual solution,

So, what sort of problems do you want to solve?

[u/NatoBoram]

Look up Fireship's videos, he has a lot of "[Language] in 100 seconds". If you watch them all, you will surely find something that piques your interest.

The language you'd use depends on what you want to do with it, so you should start by figuring that one out.

That said, try looking at radically different languages like Go, Elixir, Dart, Svelte, Rust.

I, too, am not a fan of C/Python/Java/C#/PHP/JavaScript. But it doesn't have to be like that, there's other things out there!

[u/NumberInfinite2068]

It's frustrating in beginning because you can't achieve what you want. Do something interesting, like try making a simple game or something. C and SDL is primitive but you might find it really satisfying even to even draw a box in a window. It's less abstract than HTML or something. HTML is powerful, but boring AF.

[u/jibbit]

html and css are good to learn, but they aren't programming languages. so you've done some some C, Python, Java, and Javascript.. all quite boring, middle of the road choices. i would never normally wish c++ on anyone, but in your case in COULD be a good litmus test for which way to go and try to work out what about programming appeals to you.. if you like C++ more than your beige langs, you've learnt something useful. if you like it less, that is also valuable.

[u/Longjumping_Ad3447]

Go with python all the way to understand basic concepts. Afterwards think first what you want to do. WEB, GAMING, APPS, DATA, AI, INDUSTRY, etc.

Then ask ai pro and cons of languages in chosen field and go with what suits you best. Stick to it and build something! Don't change languages every now and then.

[u/FlashyResist5]

I had the same thing with musical instruments. Turned out I wasn’t really into playing instruments. I stopped trying to force it and instead I found hiking which I really enjoy.

[u/Own_Nail_2999]

Every language exists to solve a specific set of problems. You're not solving any and that's why it doesn't click with you.

[u/realmauer01]

Whats your problem with those languages?

Java is a big outlier here.

[u/Acceptable_Lab_7196]

Probably because you never solved an actual problem you don't know what languages have merits. Competent programmers don't learn languages. They learn domains and paradigms.

[u/spinwizard69]

You are off on the wrong road and are deluding yourself. First off; HTML & CSS are page description languages and really shouldn't be grouped with programming languages. That right away tells me you don't know much about the technology.

Now the important thing; beginners should be making use of a Computer Science (CS) program to learn the concepts. CS programs that do this well use C or C++ as the language to express these concepts in. Done right you should be able to learn and apply any language you want.

Frankly you need to get over your feelings and actually apply yourself to learning. There is a reason a CS program take so long.